Three-dimensional vertical stacking domino game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A three-dimensional vertical stacking game includes a plurality of dominoes, each of which has a body with one end face for abutting stacking engagement with a face of another domino. Indicia markings are provided on at least two marked faces of the domino which are perpendicular to the one end face. The indicia identify two portions of each of the marked faces for use in playing the game. The body also has a second end face opposite to the one end face and perpendicular to the marked faces having indicia thereon, and third and fourth faces which are perpendicular to the first and second end faces. The faces comprise surface means on which other dominoes are stacked with matching adjacent indicia on each domino. The game also includes a storage container and a shaker. The storage container holds the dominoes and shaker therefor. The game is played by at least two players. The first player places a first domino on a horizontal playing surface. The second player selects a second domino having indicia which matches the indicia on the first domino and stacks the second domino directly on the first domino in a vertical direction so that the matching indicia on the first and second dominoes are adjacent to each other. A third domino having indicia which matches either of the played dominoes is selected by a subsequent player other than the second player. The third domino is placed in abutting relationship to the matching domino so that the matching indicia are adjacent to each other.

United States Patent [191 Hess [111 3,827,695 1 Aug.6, 1974 THREE-DIMENSIONAL VERTICAL STACKING DOMINO GAME APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Roy Paul Hess, 2760 Derbyshire,

Cleveland, Ohio 44106 [22] Filed: Jan. 28, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 221,603

[52] US. Cl 273/137 D, 206/46 AM, 273/1 R, 273/137 C, 273/148 R [51] Int. Cl. A63f 9/20 [58] Field of Search 206/46, 47; 273/131, 148, 273/137, 153,135

Primary Examiner-Delbert B. Lowe Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Thomas L. Tarolli [57] ABSTRACT A three-dimensional vertical stacking game includes a plurality of dominoes, each of which has a body with one end face for abutting stacking engagement with a face of another domino. lndicia markings are provided on at least two marked faces of the domino which are perpendicular to the one end face. The indicia identify two portions of each of the marked faces for use in playing the game. The body also has a second end face opposite to the one end face and perpendicular to the marked faces having indicia thereon, and third and fourth faces which are perpendicular to the first and second end faces. The faces comprise surface means on which other dominoes are stacked with matching adjacent indicia on each domino. The game also includes a storage container and a shaker. The storage container holds the dominoes and shaker therefor. The game is played by at least two players. The first player places a first domino on a horizontal playing surface. The second player selects a second domino having indicia which matches the indicia on the first domino and stacks the second domino directly on the first domino in a vertical direction so that the matching indicia on the first and second dominoes are adjacent to each other. A third domino having indicia which matches either of the played dominoes is selected by a subsequent player other than the second player. The third domino is placed in abutting relationship to the matching domino so that the matching indicia are adjacent to each other.

8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures THREE-DIMENSIONAL VERTICAL STACKING DOMINO GAME APPARATUS The present invention relates to a new and improved apparatus for a three-dimensional stacking game and more particuliarly to an apparatus for a threedimensional stacking game utilizing dominoes for stacking in a vertical direction.

One known domino game includes the use of a plurality of dominoes. Each of these dominoes have indicia on one face thereof. In order to play the game, these dominoes are turned upside down on a playing surface. Each player selects a predetermined number of these dominoes and plays their dominoes in sequential order by placing one of their dominoes adjacent to one of the played dominoes on the playing surface so that the matching indicia are adjacent to each other.

In such a priorart domino game no physical skill has been involved. Rather, it has been a game of chance in which the player hopefully receives dominoes having the proper indicia thereon to match the dominoes which have been played. The placing of the dominoes on a playing surface is not a matter of skill, but simply an unskilled manual task which is performed before the subsequent player plays. In addition, these twodimensional games of the prior art have not required complex geometric matrices which quite obviously provide a greater number of combinations in which the dominoes can be played.

The vertical domino game of the present invention utilizes a plurality of dominoes which have indicia thereon. The dominoes are stacked in a vertical direction so that the indicia on the adjacent dominoes match. As the stack of dominoes is built, each player who places a domino on the stack may do so in any random manner he desires and thereby make it more difficult for successive players to stack additional dominoes on that stack.

This difficult requirement plus the complex theredimensional array in which the dominoes are positioned create an improved domino game. In addition, the game of the present invention provides additional features which allow for the concealment of dominoes prior to playing those dominoes and properly storing the game when not in use.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a three-dimensional vertical stacking game which utilizes dominoes which are stacked vertically on each other during play of the game. i

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a three-dimensional vertical stacking game which utilizes a plurality of dominoes, each of the dominoes having end faces with side faces therebetween, at least two of the side faces having indicia markings thereon, and which dominoes are adaptable for stacking in a vertical direction.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional vertical stacking game for use by at least two players wherein the first player places the first domino on a horizontal playing surface and another player selects another domino having indicia which matches the indicia on the first domino and stacks the other domino on the first domino in a vertical direction so that the matching indicia on those dominoes are adjacent to each other and subsequent players play subsequent dominoes in a vertical direction and in both horizontal directions.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a three-dimensional vertical stacking game for use by at least two players which includes the step of stacking of one domino on another domino in an unaligned position to increase the difficulty of stacking subsequent dominoes on that domino.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional vertical stacking game which includes a plurality of dominoes in a storage container having an upper compartment for containing the dominoes and a lower compartment for containing other game parts.

Further objects and features of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompaning drawings forming a part of the specification and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the three-dimensional vertical stacking game apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a domino of the pres ent invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and taken along lines 3-3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a shield used in conjunction with the game of the present invention in a disassembled condition;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the shield shown in FIG. 4 in an assembled condition;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional side view of a shaker used during play of the game of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of certain dominoes used in the game of the present invention and shown in one particular array for purposes of illustration;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a modified domino for use in the game of the present invention, and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the domino shown in FIG. 8

The present invention provides a new and improved three-dimensional vertical stacking game apparatus which includes the use of a plurality of dominoes having indicia on at least two faces thereof, a shaker, shields and a storage container. The present invention may be applied to three-dimensional vertical stacking domino games of a wide variety of constructions and designs and for purposes of illustration is described in the drawings as applied to the game apparatus 10 as shown in FIG. 1.

The three-dimensional vertical game apparatus 10 of the present invention includes a plurality of dominoes l2, and a storage container 14 for containing therein the dominoes 12 and other game parts as will hereinafter be described. The other parts of the game apparatus 10 include a plurality of shield members 16 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and a shaker, generally indicated at 18 in FIG. 6. The shaker 18 may be broken down into component parts and placed in the storage container 14 as will hereinafter be described.

It should be understood that a number of different vertical stacking domino games can be played with the game apparatus 10 of the present invention other than the game hereinafter described.

In order to play one such game of the present invention, the shaker 18 is assembled and all of the dominoes 12 are placed therein. After shaking the dominoes 12 in the shaker 18, they are in a random distribution in the shaker.

The shield members 16, as shown in FIG. 4, consist of a longitudinal piece of plastic which has a generally rectangular cross-section and has a slot 20 in one end thereof. Each player takes two of the shield members 16 and orients them so that the slot 20 of one of the members 16 is positioned in an upward direction and the slot 20 of the other shield member 16 is positioned in a downward direction and by pushing the two shield members 16 together a shield 22, as shown in FIG. 5, is formed thereby.

Each of the players takes a predetermined number of dominoes from the shaker 18 shown in FIG. 6. For example, in the particular described game, each player takes five dominoes. Each player then places these five dominoes behind the shield 22 so that the number of indicia marked on the dominoes are hidden from view. Thus, it would be difficult, if not impossible, for competitive players to view the dominoes of the other players. If this were possible the player could play his dominoes so as to block the subsequent player from playing his dominoes and thereby require him to take another domino from the shaker 18 which would be disadvantageous as will hereinafter be described.

Each of the dominoes comprise a body 24 as shown in FIG. 2 which has one end face 26 for abutting stacking relationship with the face of another domino. Indica markings generally indicated at 28 are provided on the marked faces 30, 32 as shown in FIG. 2 to identify two portions 30a, 30b and 32a and 32b of the faces 30, 32 respectively. It should be understood that the faces 30, 32 are perpendicular to the end face 26.

The body 24 also has a second end face 34 which is opposite to the end face 26 and perpendicular to the faces 30, 32. The body 24 also has third and fourth faces 36, 38 which are perpendicular to the end faces 26, 34 and have indicia markings thereon as described in connection with the faces 30, 32. Each of the faces 26, 30, 32, 34, 36, and 38 have surfaces upon which other dominoes may be stacked.

Each of the faces 30, 32, 36, 38 are generally rectangular in configuration and are divided into two portions. For example, face 30 is divided into face portions 30a and 30b and face 32 is divided into portions 32a and 32b, and similiarly the other faces 36, 38 have portions 36a, 36b, 38a and 38b. It should be understood that each portion has one particular indicia thereon. For example, the face portions 30a, 32a, 36a and 38a have one particular indicia thereon and the face portions 30b, 32b, 36b and 38b have another particular indicia thereon. I

It should also be further understood that the body 24 may be made from any particular material well known to those skilled in the art such as for example a solid block of wood, plastic or other material.

The portion 30a has one particular indicia designated by a particular number of dots while portion-30b has separate indicia designated by a particular number of dots thereon which may or may not be equal to the number of dots on portion 30a. The dots are formed in the domino 12 by any known process, such as hot stamping, drilling and filling with paint, or other such similar known processes.

The dots on the dominoes may be arranged in any manner. Preferably, and in the example shown; one domino has double nines, that is nine dots on the portions 30a, 32a, 36a, 38a and nine dots on the portions 30b, 32b, 36b, 38b. The number of dots on each of the portions of the other dominoes respectively progress downwardly in sequence as for example nine, eight; nine, seven; nine, six; nine, five; nine, four; and so on. The next sequence would be eight, eight; eight, seven; eight, six; eight, five; eight, four and so on. And the next sequence would be seven, seven; seven, six; seven, five; seven, four; and so on, and the numbering sequence would proceed in accordance with the above. As it can be seen, double nines require fifty five dominoes to provide the proper number of dominoes including a double zero.

Due to the three-dimensional aspects of this particular game, it is particularly desirable to have the indicia markings on at least two sides 30, 32, or 30, 38 of the dominoes 12 and preferably on all four sides 30, 32, 36 and 38 of dominos 12.

It should be noted however that by putting the indicia on two or more faces, the three-dimensional aspects of the game are further established by the fact that the dominoes cannot be simply laid on a flat surface and scrambled but rather must be put in a shaker 18 in order to conceal them. And in addition, special concealing means such as a shield 22 must be utilized in order to avoid allowing players to view the indicia on the dominoes held by any particular player.

The perpendicularity of the faces 26, 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38 is important to allow proper stacking of the dominoes 12 on each other.

It should be understood that the object of one game utilizing the apparatus of the present invention is to end up with the lowest score at the end of the game. In order to properly prepare for playing the game, a playing surface 40 is provided and is as level and sturdy as possible.

After each of the players has selected a predetermined number of dominoes, the game begins. The following playing steps include one suggested game which is played with the apparatus of the present invention. It should be understood at the outset, that it is within the comtemplation of this invention to include other methods of playing such a game wherein the dominoes are stacked in a vertical direction.

After each player takes five dominoes from the shaker 18, he places them behind his shield 22. The player who has the highest double domino, or domino with the same indicia on the face portions 30a and 30b, 32a and 32b, 36a and 36b and 38a and 38b, places that domino on the playing surface 40 with one of its long faces 30, 32, 36, 38 down. For example, the highest double domino is the double nine which is shown at 42 in FIG. 7. Any player who has this domino would, according to the above rule, play that domino first on the playing surface. If no player has a double domino, then the player with the highest numerical domino starts and places that domino on the playing surface.

The play proceeds to the left of the first player and the second player selects a second domino having indicia on one portion thereof which matches the indicia on the first domino 42. Thus, it is necessary to have a domino having a nine on one face portion thereof so that it will match with the double nine which has already been played. The second player may play his domino, for example the nine-eight domino 44 as shown in FIG. 7, vertically on the double nine. The advantages of such a play will hereinafter be described.

Subsequent dominoes can be played off of the double nine in either direction as indicated by the dominoes 46, 48 and 50 which give an indication of the five directions which may be played from the double nine.

Subsequent players continue with the process of selecting a domino having indicia thereon which matches the indicia of a portion of another domino which has been played. The subsequent players either lay the domino on the playing surface 40 in a horizontal position as shown by the dominoes 46, 48 and 50 or in a vertical position as will be hereinafter described. When a double domino is played in a horizontal direction, it should be layed in a crosswise manner as indicated by the domino 52.

When such additional double dominoes are played, additional vertical stacks may be played from that double domino. If the player does not have a domino whose either end matches any end domino, he must draw a domino or additional dominoes from the shaker 18 until he can play.

The play proceeds to the left with each player playing a matching domino on any end domino. The line of played dominoes can form any pattern as long as it does not intersect itself and may proceed in either a vertical or any horizontal direction.

An additional play option occurs when a double domino is placed and played on the playing surface, such as the double domino 52. Double dominoes can be played up from that double domino 52 by placing the end face of the domino 54 on top of the double 52 which forms another stack. Subsequent matching dominoes can also be played on this vertical stack. The option always exists to play up on all double dominoes played on the playing surface 40. It should be understood that vertical stacks can only be created-on top of double dominoes. When building any particular stack, the game of the present invention involves the use of certain manual dexterity and ability to balance dominoes in a particular manner. As shown in FIG. 7, the dominoes 44, 56, 58 and 60 have been built up in a particular manner which creates a more precarious position for each of the dominoes, the higher the stack.

It is advantageous for a player to place dominoes in precarious positions due to penalty points received by subsequent players if they should topple the stack over. For example, the domino 56 is played off to one side of the domino 44 upon which it rests. This creates a precarious position for the subsequent domino 58. It requires the player of domino 58 to compensate for the unbalance created by the domino 56 and in addition the player of domino 60 must continue to compensate for the unbalance created by both dominoes 56 and 58. It is readily apparent that as the game proceeds in a vertical stacking relationship the unbalance created in each stack increases and it becomes much easier to topple the stack by any player playing on that stack.

The rules of the game provide that the player who has the ability to play a domino on top of a vertical stack will receive a scoring premium and those players who do not have the ability to add to this stack and in fact make an attempt to do so and topple the stack will be penalized therefor.

It is the general scoring rule that the round ends when one player exhausts his supply of dominoes. At this point numerical values of the indicia on one side of the dominoes still held by each player are added to his score. The game ends when one players score reaches 100.

There are certain rules which put a premium on the manual dexterity and the stacking ability of the various players. One example of these rules is that the player who has played the highest domino in any vertical stack does not receive any score for that round. This scoring rule puts a premium on the ability of a player to be able to stack without toppling the stack.

Another rule which penalizes the player for toppling the stack is that if the player causes a vertical stack to fall as he is playing or stacking a domino on it, the round is automatically finished and the offending player who toppled that stack adds to his score the numerical value of indicia on one face of all of the dominoes remaining in his hand plus the highest numerical domino from each of the other players. The other players do not receive any score in that round.

If a player causes a vertical stack to fall at any time other than when he is playing a domino on it, either accidentally or otherwise, such as causing the playing surface to move, he will be given a penalty score of the numerical value of one face of the total of all of the unplayed dominoes in the possession of the other players plus his own. This concludes a round of play and the other players get no score.

In some cases, due to apparent disputes over the cause and effect of making the stack of dominoes fall, if it cannot be determined who caused the vertical stack to fall, the round is canceled, no score results for any player and a new round is started. If a vertical stack falls as a result of external forces or the observing friends of the players, then the round ends as if a player had run out of dominoes. In such a case, the player who had the highest domino in any stack does not get a score.

If none of a players dominoes has matching indicia thereon, the player must draw dominoes from the shaker until he draws a playable domino.

At the conclusion of play, the game is disassembled and the dominoes 12 stored in the storage container 14. The storage container 14 has four side members 62, 64, 68, 70. The container 14 is shown in section in FIG. 3. The side members 62, 64, 68 and 70 define a polygon and have slots 72 running along their longitudinal extent as shown in FIG. 3 for receiving and supporting a divider shelf 74 therein.

The divider shelf 74 divides the container 14 into an upper compartment 76 and a lower compartment 78. The upper compartment 76 is formed by the side faces 62, 64, 68, 70 and the upper surface 80 of the shelf member 74. The lower compartment 78 is defined by the side faces 62, 64, 68, and 70 and the lower surface 82 of the divider shelf 74. An elastomeric strip 84 is placed along the surface 68 of the upper compartment 76. Another elastomeric member 86 is secured to the corresponding portion of the side face member 64. The elastomeric members are secured to their complementary side faces 64 and 68 by any suitable means such as an adhesive.

In order to store the dominoes 12 in the upper compartment 76, they are inserted therein in the manner as shown in FIG. 1 in a series of rows and columns. As the rows and columns become filled, it becomes necessary to force the dominoes against the elastomeric members 84, 86. Thus, when all of the dominoes are in the upper compartment 76 and it is filled, the members 84, 86 are partially compressed so that the dominoes 12 are retained therein.

It should be noted that the dominoes 12 may be positioned in the container 14 in various arrays which are capable of representing aesthetically pleasing geometric configurations.

The other game parts such as the shaker l8 and shields are stored in the lower compartment 78. The shaker 18 consists of a flexible continuous body 90 including a peripheral member 92 having ends joined by means of a connector strip 94. Suitable means such as an adhesive are provided between the member 92 and joining member 94 so that the edges 96, 98 of the member 92 are held in position adjacent to each other. It should be understood that for additional securement rivets may provide a contineous joint through the connecting member 94 and the ends 96, 98 of the flexible member 92. The flexible member 92 may be made of any suitable flexible material such as leather or plastic.

As shown in FIG. 6, the shaker 18 has an upper shelf 100 and a lower shelf 102. In order to support the lower shelf 102, a peripheral strip 104 is provided and is retained on the member 90 by any suitable means such as an adhesive or rivets. The peripheral member 104 extends around the periphery of the member 90 so that when the lower shelf member 102 is inserted into the inside of the member 90, the member 90 will conform to the shape defined by the lower shelf member 102 and will support the lower shelf member 102.

In a like manner the upper shelf member 100 is supported by the peripheral member 106. It should be understood that the shaker container 18 conforms to the shape of the upper and lower supporting members 100, 102 and for example as shown in the drawings is a cylindrical container for holding the dominoes 12 therein during play of the game.

The upper shelf has a lifting flap, generally indicated at 108, which allows for easier removal of the upper member 100 so that the dominoes may be readily removed from the shaker 18. The lifting flap 108 is secured to the upper shelf member 100 by any suitable means such as rivets or an adhesive.

In order to disassemble the shaker 18, the upper member 100 is removed and subsequently the dominoes 12 are positioned in the container 14 as hereinabove described. At that point, the lower shelf 102 is collapsed and pushed out of the shaker body 90 and positioned therein as shown in FIG. 3. The upper shelf member 100 is then positioned therein and subsequently the shield members 16 are positioned therein as shown in FIG. 3.

These miscellaneous parts 18 and 16 of the game are then positioned in the lower compartment 78 of the storage container 14. A sliding retainer member 110 is then slid into the grooves 112, 114 in the members 62, 68 respectively so as to retain the components of the shaker 18 and the shield members 16. Finger holes 118 may be provided in the sliding storage member 110 to allow for gripping the shelf 110 and moving it relative to the sides 62, 68 of the storage container 14.

It should be understood that the present invention contemplates dominoes other than those made from a solid block of material. One such variation is shown in F IGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 8 shows a domino 12a having markings thereon in accordance with the domino 12 hereinabove described. The domino 12a is made from a block of material generally indicated at 120 by any suitable process,

such as injection molding. Suitable recesses 122 are formed in the member to minimize the crosssection of the domino 12a and thereby decrease the amount of material required to form the domino 12a.

The specific configuration shown in FIG. 9 represents a domino which adds additional interesting characteristics to the game of the present invention. That is, when the domino 12a is stacked on end, the recesses 122 do not represent areas which will support additional dominoes stacked thereon. Thus, interesting leaning and stacking effects may be created which increase the amount of manual dexterity required to stack the dominoes 12a.

The domino 12a may also be manufactured by the injection molding process which is well known to those skilled in the art. Such a process requires a parting line. In order to add a further interesting aspect to the game of the present invention, the domino 12a may be manufactured so that the parting line 124 is formed down the center of the domino as shown in FIG. 8. This provides a slight ridge 124 extending from the face of the domino as shown in FIG. 9. The ridge 124 creates further difficulty in stacking dominoes on a double domino and thereby increases the degree of difficulty inherent in the game and thereby requires greater manual dexterity of the players involved. It should be further understood that other recesses and extending portions may be formed on either dominoes 12 or 12a to change the stability thereof in order to achieve different degrees of difficulty.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A three-dimensional vertical stacking game apparatus comprising a plurality of dominoes having indicia on at least two faces thereof, a storage container having a plurality of side faces defining a polygon and a divider shelf supported between said side faces to define an upper compartment for containing said dominoes therein and a lower storage compartment formed by said side faces and said divider shelf, said storage con tainer including a removable shelf for closing said lower compartment.

2. A three-dimensional stacking game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said domino comprises a body having one end face for abutting stacking engagement with a face of another domino, indicia on at least two marked faces perpendicular to said one end face, said indicia identifying two portions of each of said marked faces, said body having a second end face opposite to said one end face and perpendicular to said two marked faces, said body having third and fourth faces perpendicular to said first and second end faces, said faces comprising surface means on which other dominoes are stacked with the adjacent indicia on each domino matching the adjacent indicia on the other domino stacked thereon.

3. A three-dimensional vertical stacking game apparatus as defined in claim 1 which includes a shield means for concealing the indicia on the dominoes of one player from the view of the other players.

4. A three-dimensional vertical stacking game apparatus as defined in claim 1 which includes an elastomeric member secured to said side faces to retain said dominoes in said upper compartment.

5. A three-dimensional vertical stacking game apparatus as defined in claim 1 which includes a shaker conmembers received in said flexible member form said container.

7. A three-dimensional vertical stacking game comprising a plurality of dominoes, each of said dominoes comprising a body having one end face for abutting stacking engagement with a face of another domino, indicia on at least two marked faces perpendicular to said one end face, said indicia identifying two portions of each of said marked faces, said body having a second end face opposite to said one end face and perpendicular to said two faces, said body having third and fourth faces perpendicular to said first and second end faces, said faces comprising surface means on which other dominoes are stacked with the adjacent indicia on each domino matching the adjacent indicia on the other domino stacked thereon, and a storage container having a plurality of side faces defining a polygon and a divider shelf supported between said side faces to define an upper compartment for containing said dominoes therein and a lower compartment formed by said side faces and said divider shelf, said storage container including a removable shelf for closing said lower compartment.

8. A vertical stacking game apparatus comprising a plurality of dominoes, each of said dominoes comprising a body having one end face for abutting stacking engagement with a face of another domino, indicia on at least two marked faces perpendicular to said one end face, said indicia identifying two portions of each of said marked faces, said body having a second end face opposite to said one end face and perpendicular to said two faces, said body having third and fourth faces perpendicular to said first and second faces, said faces comprising surface means on which other dominoes are stacked with the adjacent indicia on each domino matching the adjacent indicia on the other domino stacked thereon, a shaker container for holding said dominoes during play of the game, shield means for concealing the indicia on the dominoes of one player from the view of the other players, and a storage container having a plurality of side faces defining a polygon and a divider shelf supported between said side faces to define an upper compartment for containing said dominoes therein and a lower compartment formed by said side faces and said divider shelf. 

1. A three-dimensional vertical stacking game apparatus comprising a plurality of dominoes having indicia on at least two faces thereof, a storage container having a plurality of side faces defining a polygon and a divider shelf supported between said side faces to define an upper compartment for containing said dominoes therein and a lower storage compartment formed by said side faces and said divider shelf, said storage container including a removable shelf for closing said loweR compartment.
 2. A three-dimensional stacking game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said domino comprises a body having one end face for abutting stacking engagement with a face of another domino, indicia on at least two marked faces perpendicular to said one end face, said indicia identifying two portions of each of said marked faces, said body having a second end face opposite to said one end face and perpendicular to said two marked faces, said body having third and fourth faces perpendicular to said first and second end faces, said faces comprising surface means on which other dominoes are stacked with the adjacent indicia on each domino matching the adjacent indicia on the other domino stacked thereon.
 3. A three-dimensional vertical stacking game apparatus as defined in claim 1 which includes a shield means for concealing the indicia on the dominoes of one player from the view of the other players.
 4. A three-dimensional vertical stacking game apparatus as defined in claim 1 which includes an elastomeric member secured to said side faces to retain said dominoes in said upper compartment.
 5. A three-dimensional vertical stacking game apparatus as defined in claim 1 which includes a shaker container for holding a group of said dominoes during play of the game.
 6. A three-dimensional vertical stacking game apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said shaker container comprises a flexible member and a pair of end members received in said flexible member form said container.
 7. A three-dimensional vertical stacking game comprising a plurality of dominoes, each of said dominoes comprising a body having one end face for abutting stacking engagement with a face of another domino, indicia on at least two marked faces perpendicular to said one end face, said indicia identifying two portions of each of said marked faces, said body having a second end face opposite to said one end face and perpendicular to said two faces, said body having third and fourth faces perpendicular to said first and second end faces, said faces comprising surface means on which other dominoes are stacked with the adjacent indicia on each domino matching the adjacent indicia on the other domino stacked thereon, and a storage container having a plurality of side faces defining a polygon and a divider shelf supported between said side faces to define an upper compartment for containing said dominoes therein and a lower compartment formed by said side faces and said divider shelf, said storage container including a removable shelf for closing said lower compartment.
 8. A vertical stacking game apparatus comprising a plurality of dominoes, each of said dominoes comprising a body having one end face for abutting stacking engagement with a face of another domino, indicia on at least two marked faces perpendicular to said one end face, said indicia identifying two portions of each of said marked faces, said body having a second end face opposite to said one end face and perpendicular to said two faces, said body having third and fourth faces perpendicular to said first and second faces, said faces comprising surface means on which other dominoes are stacked with the adjacent indicia on each domino matching the adjacent indicia on the other domino stacked thereon, a shaker container for holding said dominoes during play of the game, shield means for concealing the indicia on the dominoes of one player from the view of the other players, and a storage container having a plurality of side faces defining a polygon and a divider shelf supported between said side faces to define an upper compartment for containing said dominoes therein and a lower compartment formed by said side faces and said divider shelf. 